Information distribution system and program

ABSTRACT

To provide an information distribution device and program that make it possible to reduce a user&#39;s waiting time, the system is provided with general data ( 122 ) that contains access frequencies of a plurality of portable telephones ( 200 ) and an image generation section ( 113 ) that generates an image specifying a distribution request time for each portable telephone ( 200 ), and distribution request time specifying information that specifies a vacant time period as a distribution request time is transmitted to the portable telephone ( 200 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an information distribution system anda program, and, in particular, to an information distribution system andprogram that enables a game on that terminal by creating anddistributing game information based on a request from the terminal.

BACKGROUND OF ART

Game systems that display a game image on the screen of a portabletelephone have been implemented, to enable the playing of games thereon.

In such a game system, game information such as page data for gameimages is distributed to the portable telephone from a predeterminedinformation distribution system, and the game is played by the updatingof pages.

If a large number of people should access the information distributionsystem simultaneously, however, the processing capability of theinformation distribution device may be exceeded. That could cause anincrease in the response waiting time and make the game fail to progresspartway through.

When customers want to apply for prizes or acquire concert tickets, theyapply just before the deadline and thus accesses to the server tend tocluster immediately after the start of acceptance if applications aredealt with in first-come-first-served order.

Within a certain period, there are times at which accesses cluster andother times at which there are few accesses. Even within a single day,there are time periods in which accesses cluster and time periods inwhich there are few accesses.

In such a case, a prior-art information distribution device would copeby providing information to the user by transmitting a message such as“We are busy at the moment” when there is a cluster of accesses, toreinforce the processing capability of the information distributionsystem and the communications line. Transmitting the above message tothe terminal device does not, however, remove the user's dissatisfactionand, if it does reinforce the processing capability, it does so at greatcost.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention was devised in the light of the above describedproblem and has as an objective thereof the provision of an informationdistribution system and program that make it possible to disperseaccesses from terminal devices. Another objective of the presentinvention is to provide an information distribution system and programthat make it possible to reduce the waiting time of access from aterminal device.

(1) In order to solve the above described problem, an informationdistribution system in accordance with the present invention relates toan information distribution system distributing predeterminedinformation to a terminal device over a transfer path, the informationdistribution system comprising:

information generation means which generates distribution request timespecifying information that specifies a distribution request timeindicating a time-point or a time period at which the terminal deviceissues a distribution request for the predetermined information; and

means for transmitting generated distribution request time specifyinginformation to the terminal device.

wherein the information generation means specifies the distributionrequest time so as to disperse a distribution request time for theterminal device.

(2) A program in accordance with the present invention relates to aprogram embodied on an information storage medium or in a carrier wavewhich is a program for distributing predetermined information to aterminal device over a transfer path, the program comprising means forimplementing in a computer:

information generation means which generates distribution request timespecifying information that specifies a distribution request timeindicating a time-point or a time period at which the terminal deviceissues a distribution request for the predetermined information; and

means for transmitting generated distribution request time specifyinginformation to the terminal device,

wherein the information generation means specifies the distributionrequest time so as to disperse a distribution request time for theterminal device.

The present invention makes it possible to stagger distribution requestsby having the information distribution system side specify adistribution request time for the terminal device. Since this ensuresthat accesses do not cluster, it reduces irritations such as processingwait time, enabling congenial distribution processing. This also reducesthe time that the user of the terminal device has to wait, making itpossible for the user to receive the requested service smoothly.

The method used to specify a distribution request time in such a mannerthat the distribution request times of the terminal devices arestaggered could be one in which the specification of each distributionrequest time is based on history data which is stored in a predeterminedstorage area and which indicates the history of at least one ofdistribution requests and responses corresponding to the distributionrequests, one in which the specification of each distribution requesttime is based on actual distribution requests.

(3) In this information distribution system or program, it is desirablethat the information generation means specifies the distribution requesttime, based on history data which is stored in a predetermined storagearea and which indicates a history of at least one of a distributionrequest and a response corresponding to the distribution request.

This makes it possible to ensure that distribution requests fromterminal devices do not cluster, by specifying a time-point or timeperiod at which there are few requests or responses as the distributionrequest time, by way of example, with reference to the history ofrequests or responses in the past

Note that the history data in this case corresponds to data comprising ahistory of service request time-points and service provision time-point,byway of example. This clarifies the service processing time for eachtime period, making it possible to give the user a smooth service bydetermining the time periods in which distribution requests tend tocluster and specifying a distribution request time in a time period inwhich distribution requests do not cluster.

(4) This information distribution system desirably comprises:

means which receives distribution request information from the terminaldevice; and

control means which updates the history data, based on the distributionrequest information and a response

corresponding to the distribution request.

(5) This program desirably makes a computer implement:

means for a reception means to receive distribution request informationfrom the terminal device; and

control means which updates the history data, based on the distributionrequest information and a response corresponding to the distributionrequest.

This makes it possible to maintain the history data in an up-to-datemanner, so that the user can always receive a congenial service.

(6) In this information distribution system or program, it is desirablethat the information generation means generates information specifyingat least one of a start time-point of accepting the distribution requestand an end time-point of the distribution request as part of thedistribution request time specifying information.

In general, distribution requests cluster immediately after theacceptance-start time-point or immediately before the acceptance-endtime-point. More specifically, distribution request cluster at timessuch as at the start of reservation of concert tickets or at thedeadline of a prize application period, but this configuration makes itpossible to prevent any cluster of excessive distribution requests sothat users can receive information in a congenial manner, by specifyingan acceptance-start time-point or acceptance-end time-point fordistribution requests.

(7) In this information distribution system or program, it is desirablethat the storage area stores request frequency data, which indicates afrequency of the distribution requests from a plurality of terminaldevices for each of predetermined time periods, and

the information generation means specifies as the distribution requesttime a time period in which the distribution request frequency is low,or a time-point included in the time period, based on the requestfrequency data.

By specifying a time period in which the distribution request frequencyis low, with reference to the distribution request frequency, it becomespossible to promptly process any distribution request that occurs inthat time period, enabling the user to receive a congenial service.

In this case, the method of specifying a time period in which thedistribution request frequency is low, or a time-point belonging to sucha time period, is preferably a method of specifying a time period inwhich the frequency is low or the probability of access is low, based ona frequency distribution or probability distribution of distributionrequests in different time periods.

(8) In this information distribution system or program, it is desirablethat the storage area stores personal request frequency data, whichindicates frequency of a distribution request from the terminal deviceand which is provided for each user of the terminal device, and

the information generation means specifies as the distribution requesttime a time period in which the distribution request frequency is low,or a time-point included in the time period, based on the personalrequest frequency data.

This makes it possible to stagger the distribution request times fordifferent users. This also makes it possible to stagger all of thedistribution request times and enable the distribution of congenialinformation.

(9) In this information distribution system or program, it is desirablethat the storage area stores user data which is provided for each userof the terminal device and comprises at least one of a name, address,date of birth, age, occupation, telephone number, and game play historyinformation of the each user, and

the control means identifies a user from the distribution requestinformation and updates the user data for the identified user.

This provision of user data makes it possible to base the staggering ofdistribution request times on a factor such as address or occupation. Iftimes are staggered by age, by way of example, it is possible to specifydistribution request times in such a manner that teenagers are giventimes between 17:00 and 21:00, people in their twenties are given timesbetween 23:00 and 01:00, and people in their thirties are given timesbetween 21:00 and 23:00.

(10) In this information distribution system or program, it is desirablethat the user data comprises address information indicating the addressof the each user, and

the information generation means generates distribution request timespecifying information which specifies distribution request times thatdiffer for different regions, based on the address information.

This makes it possible to ensure that the same distribution request timeis given within the same region, so that the user is unlikely to noticethat different distribution request times have been specified, leavingthe user with no feeling of unfairness.

(11) In this information distribution system or program, it is desirablethat the user data comprises the distribution request time specifyinginformation that was specified with respect to the each user, and

the control means updates the user data, based on distribution requesttime specifying information specified by the information generationmeans.

This makes it possible to easily determine whether or not a request hascome in within the specified time period, when there is a distributionrequest from a user in practice, by previously storing distributionrequest time specifying information in the user data.

(12) In this information distribution system or program, it is desirablethat the storage area stores distribution request specifying dataindicating number of time-point or time period specified as thedistribution request time, and

the control means updates the distribution request specifying data,based on the distribution request time specifying information specifiedby the information generation means.

This makes it possible to maintain data on the specified distributionrequest time and the number of specifications so that it is always up todate. This also makes it possible to prevent specifications clusteringat a specific distribution request time, by specifying distributionrequest time with reference to the distribution request specifying data.

(13) In addition, with the information distribution system or theprogram, information that is distributed to the terminal device is gameinformation, and

the information generation means generates game information for playingat least one of a game image and a game sound on the terminal device.

This makes it possible to distribute game information to the terminaldevice and also specify a distribution request time-point for the game.In particular, if distribution requests for real-time processing, suchas that for a game. cluster within a specific time period, a situationmay arise in which the processing capability of the distribution deviceis exceeded and the player is unable to enjoy a real-time game. Bystaggering the distribution request times, it becomes possible to reduceproblems such as processing wait times at the distribution device sideand thus enable the player to enjoy a real-time game.

(14) In this information distribution system or program, it is desirablethat the control means updates the user data, based on a time-point ofthe distribution request, and

the information generation means generates at least one of gameinformation which makes a game progress more advantageously when theterminal device has issued a distribution request at a time-pointconforming with the distribution request time than when a distributionrequest has been issued at a time-point not conforming with thedistribution request time, and game information which makes a gameprogress less advantageously when the terminal device has issued adistribution request at a time-point not conforming with thedistribution request time than when a distribution request has beenissued at a time-point conforming with the distribution request time,based on the user data.

The player can be given incentive to issue distribution requests at thedistribution request time specified for the terminal device, byreceiving processing that is advantageous to the game if thedistribution request occurs at a time-point that conforms with thedistribution request time. This makes it possible to increase the numberof players who issue distribution requests at the distribution requesttimes, reducing the processing wait time and enabling the players toenjoy a real-time game.

(15) In this information distribution system or program, it is desirablethat the control means updates the personal request frequency data,based on a time-point of the distribution request, and

the information generation means generates at least one of gameinformation which makes a game progress more advantageously when theterminal device has issued distribution requests dispersedly over aplurality of time periods than when distribution requests have beenissued concentratedly, and game information which makes a game progressless advantageously when the terminal device has issued distributionrequests concentratedly within a predetermined time period than whendistribution requests have been issued dispersedly, based on thepersonal request frequency data.

This makes it possible to give the player incentive to issuedistribution requests that are dispersed over a plurality of timeperiods, not clustered within a specific time period, by providingprocessing that is advantageous to the game if the terminal deviceissues distribution request that are dispersed over a plurality of timeperiods. It is therefore possible to increase the number of players whoissue dispersed distribution requests, thus reducing the processing waittime and enabling the players to enjoy a real-time game.

(16) An information distribution system in accordance with the presentinvention relates to an information distribution system distributingpredetermined information to a terminal device over a transfer path, theinformation distribution system comprising:

means for receiving from the terminal device distribution request timespecifying information comprising a specification of a distributionrequest time indicating a time-point or time period at which theterminal device issues a distribution request for the predeterminedinformation;

information generation means for generating distribution request timeallowing/refusing information that is stored in a predetermined storagearea and indicates allowance or refusal to a specification of adistribution request time, based on history data, which indicates ahistory of at least one of a distribution request and a responsecorresponding to the distribution request, and on the distributionrequest time specifying information; and

means for transmitting the generated distribution request timeallowing/refusing information to the terminal device

(17) A program in accordance with the present invention relates to aprogram embodied on an information storage medium or in a carrier wavewhich is a program for distributing predetermined information to aterminal device over a transfer path, the program comprising means forimplementing in a computer:

means for a reception means to receive from the terminal devicedistribution request time specifying information comprising aspecification of a distribution request time indicating a time-point ortime period at which the terminal device issues a distribution requestfor the predetermined information;

information generation means for generating distribution request timeallowing/refusing information that is stored in a predetermined storagearea and indicates allowance or refusal to a specification of adistribution request time, based on history data, which indicates ahistory of at least one of a distribution request and a responsecorresponding to the distribution request, and on the distributionrequest time specifying information; and

means for a transmission means to transmit the generated distributionrequest time allowing/refusing information to the terminal device.

The present invention makes it possible for the user of the terminaldevice to determine when would be a good time to issue a distributionrequest, by hinting at a permitted distribution request time inaccordance with a request from the terminal. If the user is therebyinduced to issue distribution requests in a time period or at atime-point that is suitable for distribution requests, access waitingtime can be reduced and congenial information can be distributed.

Note that the predetermined information in this case is preferably atleast one of game image information and game sound information.

(18) In this information distribution system or program, it is desirablethat the terminal device is a portable terminal device comprising:

means for inputting operating information of a user;

means for transmitting distribution request information including theoperating information and receiving the is predetermined information;and

display means for displaying an image based on received predeterminedinformation.

This makes it possible to reduce the processing wait time and provide acongenial service, when the terminal device that is used has very littlestorage area and thus must issue distribution requests frequently todownload data substantially every time it is required, such as aportable terminal device.

Note that the portable terminal device in this case could be a portableinformation terminal, a portable telephone set, a portable game device,or a portable type of personal computer (PC).

(19) In this information distribution system or program, it is desirablethat the portable terminal device is a portable telephone set, and

the display means comprises:

a display formed integrally with the telephone set; and

means for shaping and displaying the image on the display.

This makes it possible to display a wide range of images by means suchas a browser for shaping game images for display, thus making itpossible for the user to receive a wide range of services in real time.Note that this enables the player to use a browser in a portabletelephone set to access a service that provides information that can bedisplayed, such as NTT's i-mode service.

Note also that the portable telephone-set in this case could be aportable telephone, a personal handyphone system (PHS) unit, or aportable telephone that employs satellite communications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a game system in accordance with anexample of this embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a portable telephone.

FIG. 3 shows an example of an game image transition in accordance withan example of this embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a game information distributiondevice in accordance with an example of this embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of individual data in accordance with anexample of this embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of general data in accordance with an exampleof this embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows another example of a game image transition in accordancewith an example of this embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a deadline time-point table in accordancewith an example of this embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9A shows an image that specifies 18:00 hours and FIG. 9B shows animage that specifies 20:00 hours.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Examples of the invention applied to a game system that uses a portabletelephone are described below with reference to the accompanyingfigures.

A schematic view of the game system in accordance with an example ofthis embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1.

The game system comprises a portable telephone 200, which functions as aterminal device, and a game information distribution device 100, whichfunctions as an information distribution device that generates gameinformation based on distribution request information that istransmitted from the portable telephone 200 over a transfer path andtransmits game information to the portable telephone 200.

In this case, the game information distribution device 100 and theportable telephone 200 are connected together by a packet-switchingnetwork 300. The transfer paths between the game informationdistribution device 100 and the portable telephone 200 include awireless transfer path 320 and a wired transfer path 310.

Note that data is transferred between the game information distributiondevice 100 and the portable telephone 200 in packet format within thepacket-switching network 300, via a base station and a packetassembler/disassembler or the like. In practice, a plurality of theseportable telephones 200 will be connected to the game informationdistribution device 100 by the packet-switching network 300.

First of all, a player uses the portable telephone 200 to connect to thepacket-switching network 300 and the portable telephone 200 transmitsdistribution request data to the game information distribution device100, based on the player's actions. Game information is generated by thegame information distribution device 100 in accordance with thedistribution request, then is transmitted by a transmission means to theportable telephone 200.

The portable telephone 200 receives the game information from the gameinformation distribution device 100, then displays game images on ascreen of the portable telephone 200 to implement a game.

An external view of the portable telephone 200 is shown in FIG. 2.

The portable telephone 200 comprises a plurality of keys that functionas an operating section 210, a display section 220 on which charactersand images are displayed, and an antenna that functions as atransmission/reception section 290. In this case, the display section220 comprises a liquid-crystal screen that is a display formedintegrally with the portable telephone 200.

The player plays a game by pressing keys to update the image display onthe liquid-crystal screen.

The description below is based on a dating simulation game, as anexample of implementation.

An example of a game image transition in accordance with this embodimentof the present invention is shown in FIG. 3.

Assume that an image 400 that poses the question: “Well, how about adate?” is displayed on the display section 220 in one scene of the gameand the player presses the numeric key 1 to select “(1) Make a date”.

The fact that the player has selected “(1) Make a date” is transferredto the game information distribution device 100 as part of thedistribution request information, and the game information distributiondevice 100 generates information for displaying an image 402 that showsthe reply “How about 1 PM tomorrow?” as the date and time that theplayer should access the game information distribution device 100 next.

If the player presses the numeric key 1 of the portable telephone 200when the image 402 is displayed, to select “(1) OK”, the player confirmsthe date and time to access the game information distribution device 100next.

With this embodiment of the present invention, the game informationdistribution device 100 that distributes game information can thusspecify a distribution request date/time for the portable telephone 200.This makes it possible to control the times at which portable telephones200 access the game information distribution device 100, in situationssuch as those in which there are accesses from a plurality of portabletelephones 200. It is therefore possible to prevent a situation in whichaccesses to the game information distribution device 100 cluster withina predetermined time period, making processing impossible. This enableseach player to receive the game service of the game informationdistribution device 100 in a congenial manner, without experiencingirritations such as having to wait for the processing of the gameinformation distribution device 100.

The description now turns to the functional blocks that implement thisgame information distribution device 100.

A functional block diagram of the game information distribution device100 in accordance with this example of the present invention is shown inFIG. 4.

The portable telephone 200 that sends a distribution request to the gameinformation distribution device 100 comprises the previously describedoperating section 210, the transmission/reception section 290 thattransmits distribution request information comprising operatinginformation from the operating section 210 and receives game informationfrom the game information distribution device 100, a storage section 230that temporarily stores received game information, and the displaysection 220 that uses a browser to shape game information stored in thestorage section 230 for display on a liquid-crystal screen. Since thisis a telephone, any game sounds are played back from the receiverportion thereof.

Note that game information in this case means the data or program forexecuting the game, or an object that integrates such data and aprogram, by way of example. The game information could also comprisegame sounds in addition to game images, or it could be game soundsalone. If game sounds are to be output, the portable telephone 200 alsocomprises a sound output section for outputting game sounds that arebased on the game information.

The game information distribution device 100 comprises atransmission/reception section 190 that receives the distributionrequest information from the portable telephone 200 and transmits thegame information; a control section 112 that identifies which portabletelephone 200 has transmitted, based on the received distributionrequest information, and updates predetermined data in a storage section120; and a game information generation section 111 that generates thegame information, based on the received distribution requestinformation.

The image generation section 111 and the control section 112 areintegrated as a processing section 110, and the functions thereof couldbe implemented by means such as a CPU.

The game information generation section 111 comprises an imagegeneration section 113 that generates information for displaying gameimages and a sound generation section 114 that generates information forplaying back game sounds.

More specifically, the image generation section 113 is configured insuch a manner that it generates game image pages dynamically, bysoftware that uses the common gateway interface (CGI), by way ofexample. The sound generation section 114 is implemented by means suchas a sound generation IC, by way of example.

The control section 112 comprises a history management section 115,which stores into the storage section 120 a history of exchanges ofrequests from the portable telephone 200 and corresponding responsesfrom the processing section 110, and an access statistics section 116that processes statistics on the numbers of accesses from the portabletelephone 200.

The storage section 120 could be implemented by means such as RAM andthe transmission/reception section 190 could be implemented by meanssuch as a communications device having a packet assembler/disassembler(PAD) function.

Note that it is also possible to have a configuration in which aninformation storage medium 180 is connected to the game informationdistribution device 100, whereby the functions thereof can beimplemented by reading information (such as a program or object) fromthat information storage medium 180.

To implement components such as the transmission/reception section 190,the image generation section 111, and the control section 112 in thiscase, the abovementioned information could comprise a program thatimplements on a computer: control means that updates history data thatindicates the history of at least one of distribution requests andresponses corresponding to those distribution requests; informationgeneration means that generates distribution request time specifyinginformation that specifies a distribution request time indicating atime-point or time period at which the terminal device sent apredetermined information distribution request to the informationdistribution system, based on the history data; and means fortransmitting generated distribution request time specifying informationto the transmission/reception section 190 for the terminal device.

Note that more specific functions of components such as the gameinformation generation section 111 and the control section 112 couldalso be implementing by reading information from the information storagemedium 180.

In addition, the information stored in the information storage medium180 could be implemented (embodied) by carrier waves. In other words, itis possible to implement the previously described functions by fetchinginformation from a predetermined host terminal or the like, over anetwork, without using the information storage medium 180.

Note that a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, IC card, ROM, RAM, or storagemedium using a laser or magnetic means, such as a hard disk, could beused as the information storage medium 180.

Data such as individual data 121 containing information for eachportable telephone 200 and general data 122 containing accessinformation from a plurality of the portable telephones 200 is stored inthe storage section 120.

Note that components such as the previously described game informationgeneration section 111 could be implemented by hardware means usingcircuitry or the like, or by software means using a program or the like.

The description now turns to the data structure of the individual data121 and the general data 122.

A schematic view of the individual data 121 in accordance with thisexample of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5.

The individual data 121 comprises a user table 123, which is providedfor each user of the portable telephone 200 and comprises not only theuser ID, name, address, age, and occupation of that user, but also thatuser's game-play history information (the number of times the user hasplayed that game, the degree of advancement within the game, and thegame score), and a personal request frequency table 124, which isprovided for each user and has items such as the access time period andnumber of accesses, indicating the distribution request frequency fromthe portable telephone 200.

For example, the history management section 115 inputs “13524867” as“User ID” in the user table 123, “Haruta” as “Name”, “Tokyo” as“Address”, “20” as “Age”, “Student” as “Occupation”, “153” as “Number ofplays”, “Engaged” as “Degree of progress”, and “1430” as “Score”.

Time period segments such as “0:00 to 1:00” are provided in an “Accesstime period” part of the personal request frequency table 124.

Another item called “Number of accesses” is provided in the personalrequest frequency table 124 to correspond to the “Access time period”,and the access statistics section 116 increments the number of accessesin the time period corresponding to a start time-point, whenever thatplayer starts an access to the game information distribution device 100.

The user table 123 comprises a specified time-point and a specified typefor distribution request time specifying information that has beenspecified for the user. In this case, the specified time-point is thedate and time, or the time period, when a distribution request isspecified. The specified type is the type, such as a time-pointspecification or time period specification.

Values indicating date and time, such as “10:00”, “April 10”, or “23:30on May 2”, or values indicating start date/time and end date/time, suchas “10:00, 15:00”, “April 10, April 20”, or “23:30 on May 2, 12:30 onMay 5” are input to the “Specified time-point” field.

Similarly, values such as “Approximate time”, “Start”, “End”, or“Period” are input to the “Specified type” field.

Taking the specification of “How about 1 PM tomorrow?” of FIG. 3 as anexample, the “Specified time-point” field of the user table 123 becomes“13:00 hours” and the “Specified type” field becomes “Approximate time”.

The description now turns to the data structure of the general data 122.

A schematic view of the general data 122 in accordance with this exampleof the present invention is shown in FIG. 6

The general data 122 comprises a response history table 126 thatindicates the history of distribution requests and responsescorresponding to those distribution requests, a request frequency table127 indicating the frequency of distribution requests from a pluralityof portable telephones 200 by time period, and a distribution requestspecification table 128 that indicates the numbers of time-points ortime periods specified at distribution request times

The response history table 126 contains items such as “Number”, “Servicedetails”, Request time-point”, and “Response time-point”. In this case,“Number” is a serial number that is incremented in correspondence withservices provided by the game information distribution device 100, wherevalues such as “1” to “211” are input thereto in sequence.

The “Service details” field contains derails of the service provided bythe game information distribution device 100; more specifically, theseare items corresponding to “Provided game information for a marriageceremony scene” or “Provided menu image”.

The “Request time-point” field indicates the time-point at which theportable telephone 200 requested a service of the game informationdistribution device 100, in other words, the time-point at which thetransmission/reception section 190 received distribution requestinformation from the portable telephone 200. A value indicating a timesuch as “12:30:00, Sep. 16, 1999” is input to “Request time-point”.

The “Response time-point” field indicates the time-point at which thegame information distribution device 100 transmitted a response to therequest from the portable telephone 200, in other words, the time-pointat which the transmission/reception section 190 transmitted to theportable telephone 200 game information corresponding to thedistribution request from the portable telephone 200. A value indicatinga time such as “12:31:00. Sep. 16, 1999” is input to “Responsetime-point”.

It is therefore possible to obtain the response time taken by thatservice, by calculating the difference between the response time-pointand the request time-point. It is also possible to determine whether ornot there is a time period in which processing takes some time, in otherwords, whether there is a state in which the load on the CPU and othercomponents is too high to enable a prompt response, by comparing theresponse times for the same service in different time periods.

The request frequency table 127 contains items such as “Access timeperiod” and “Number of accesses” in a similar manner to the personalrequest frequency table 124, but it differs from the personal requestfrequency table 124 in that it also indicates the number of times all ofthe portable telephones 200 have accessed the game informationdistribution device 100 within individual time periods.

The distribution request specification table 128 contains items such as“Specified time” and “Number of specifications”. To simplify thedescription in this case, the “Specified type” that was mentioned withreference to the user table 123 specifies the distribution requestdate/time as “Approximate time”. The “Specified time” in the “Number ofspecifications” is assumed to be “0:00” and the numerical values “1” and“4” are stored therein as the numbers of times that distribution requesttime specifications occurred.

The description now turns to the method by which the game informationgeneration section 111 and other components use the individual data 121and other data, using the display of the image 402 in FIG. 3 as anexample.

First of all, an image prompting the input of data such as “User ID” isgenerated by the image generation section 113 and information on inputvalues such as “User ID” is transmitted to the game informationdistribution device 100 by the player inputting data to the input imagedisplayed on the display section 220 of the portable telephone 200. Thehistory management section 115 identifies the player who is using theportable telephone 200 from the information received by thetransmission/reception section 190, and inputs values to the user table123 for that player.

Note that he individual data 121 is generated at the point at which theplayer enters into a contract to play the game, with someone such as agame trader. The control section 112 updates the user table 123 and thepersonal request frequency table 124 within the individual data 121,based on the player's game state and the data input by the player.

The player accesses the game information distribution device 100 fromthe portable telephone 200, but the request frequency table 127 and thepersonal request frequency table 124 are updated for each access.

If the access time-point, in other words, the distribution requesttime-point, was 21:10, by way of example, the access statistics section116 increments the “Number of accesses” for the “Access time period”“21:00 to 22:00” of the request frequency table 127 by 1. Simultaneouslytherewith, the access statistics section 116 also increments the “Numberof accesses” for the “Access time period” “21:00 to 22:00” of thepersonal request frequency table 124 by 1. This makes it possible todetermine the access state in real time, at the game informationdistribution device 100.

The history management section 115 stores the service details requestedby the portable telephone 200 and the request time-point in the responsehistory table 126. The time-point at which the response to that requestoccurred is also stored in the response history table 126. This makes itpossible to obtain the above described response time in substantiallyreal time, enabling determination of the current processing load on thegame information distribution device 100 in real time.

If the player pressed the numeric key 1 at the image 400, thatinformation is transmitted as part of the distribution requestinformation to the game information distribution device 100.

The game information generation section 111 determines whether or not itis necessary to specify a distribution request time, such as that of theimage 402, from the distribution request information. If it is necessaryto specify the distribution request time, the game informationgeneration section 111 refers to the response history table 126, therequest frequency table 127, and the distribution request specificationtable 128, and specifies the most suitable time-point as thedistribution request time.

In other words, the game information generation section 111 candetermine what times the response time is long, in other words, when theprocessing load such as the CPU usage ratio is high, by reference to theresponse history table 126.

The game information generation section 111 can determine the timeperiods in which accesses cluster, by reference to the request frequencytable 127.

The game information generation section 111 can also determine whichtime-point is most often specified as the distribution request time, byreference to the distribution request specification table 128.

In other words, the game information generation section 111 generatesgame information that specifies for the distribution request time atime-point at which the response time is short, the number of accessesis small, and which is not often specified as a distribution requesttime, from these determinations.

By ensuring that each distribution request time is set by a base levelin this manner, so that players access at those distribution requesttime, it becomes possible to reduce the processing wait time of the gameinformation distribution device 100 and thus enable the player to playthe game smoothly.

With the example shown in FIG. 3, image information for displaying theimage 402 showing the message “Well, see you at 1 PM tomorrow!” on theportable telephone 200 is generated by the image generation section 113.

If the player has selected “(1) OK” by pressing the numeric key 1 fromthe image 402, the information that “(1) OK” has been selected istransmitted to the game information distribution device 100. This makesit possible to confirm the distribution request time specification.

The information that 1 PM has been specified as the distribution requesttime is transferred to the control section 112 from the game informationgeneration section 111. With this transfer of information, the historymanagement section 115 inputs “13:00 hours” to the “Specifiedtime-point” field of the user table 123, and “Approximate time” to the“Specified type” field.

The history management section 115 increments the “Number ofspecifications” for “Specified time” “13:00 hours” of the distributionrequest specification table 128 by 1.

If the player has ended the game temporarily then started accessing thegame information distribution device 100 from the portable telephone 200at approximately 13:00 hours the next day, the game informationgeneration section 111 determines whether or not the actual distributionrequest date/time conforms with the specified distribution requestdate/time. The game information generation section 111 refers to the“Specified time-point” and “Specified type” fields of the user table123. If the game information generation section 111 determines from thisdata that the player has started the access at about 13:00 hours, it candetermine whether the access conforms to the specification.

If the access does conform to the specification, the game informationgeneration section 111 generates game information that is moreadvantageous than if it does not conform to the specification. Morespecifically, the image generation section 113 generates imageinformation for displaying an actual date-proposing image, by way ofexample, and the sound generation section 114 generates correspondingsound information.

If the portable telephone 200 was not accessed at 13:00 hours the nextday, but at about 19:00 hours or about 9:00 hours, the game informationgeneration section 111 generates game information that isdisadvantageous for the game. More specifically, the image generationsection 113 generates image information for displaying an image showingthe character manipulated by the player being cold-shouldered by theother character, by way of example, and the sound generation section 114generates corresponding sound information.

Since this ensures that the player conforms to the distribution requesttime as far as possible, by providing advantageous information if thedistribution request time is conformed with but disadvantageousinformation if the distribution request time is not conformed with, itis possible to disperse accesses from the portable telephones 200. Thismakes it possible to disperse the processing load of the portabletelephone 200 so that the player experiences less waiting time and canplay an enjoyable game.

As described above, this embodiment of the present invention makes itpossible to cope with circumstances such as an increase in players whilereinforcing the processing capability of the CPU, by specifyingdistribution request times in such a manner that the processing of thegame information distribution device 100 side is dispersed even if thenumber of players increases and thus the load on the game informationdistribution device 100 becomes greater. Since there is little manualwork involved with reinforcing the processing capability of the CPU inthis manner, it is possible to operate the game information distributiondevice 100 efficiently at a low cost.

The game information distribution device 100 has been described abovewith respect to an example in which a distribution request time isspecified, but it is, also possible for the player of the portabletelephone 200 to determine a distribution request time while performinginteractive processing.

Another example of an image transition between game images in accordancewith an example of this embodiment of the present invention is shown inFIG. 7.

A question image 410 that is displayed on the display section 220 of theportable telephone 200 during a game says: “Well, how about a date? Whattime? _ hours _ minutes”.

The player uses the numeric keys of the portable telephone 200 to input“18” and “30”. This transmits distribution request time specifyinginformation indicating that the player has input 18:30 hours, to thegame information distribution device 100.

At the game information distribution device 100, the game informationgeneration section 111 references the response history table 126, therequest frequency table 127, and the distribution request specificationtable 128, to determine whether or not 18:30 is suitable as adistribution request time.

If the game information generation section 111 determines that accessestend to cluster at 18:30, so that it is not a suitable time period, itgenerates information for displaying a response image indicatingallowance or refusal for the distribution request as: “18:30 hours?Sorry—I'll be busy then. _ hours _ minutes”

The portable telephone 200 displays the image 412 and the player inputsanother time.

A suitable distribution request time is obtained by repeating thisprocess. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the player can decide upon atime period that suits the player's own circumstances as thedistribution request time, by processing that determines thedistribution request time interactively, without having to specify atime-point forcibly.

In this manner, it is possible for the player who is using the portabletelephone 200 to determine when distribution requests would beappropriate, by receiving hints about the permissivity of distributionrequest times in accordance with requests from the portable telephone200. If distribution requests are issued in a time period or at atime-point that is suitable for distribution requests in this manner, itis possible to reduce access waiting time and enable the distribution ofcongenial game information.

The present invention has been described above with reference to apreferred embodiment thereof, but it should be obvious that the presentinvention is not limited to that embodiment.

For example, the example described above related to an example ofapplication to the game information distribution device 100 thatdistributes game information, but it can equally well be applied toother purposes, such as prize applications or concert ticketreservations.

The description now turns to the application of the present invention toa prize application system.

A schematic view of a deadline time-stamp table 129 in accordance withan example of this embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 8.

Distribution requests generally cluster immediately after theacceptance-start time-point and immediately before the acceptance-endtime-point. More specifically, distribution requests cluster at timessuch as the start of reservations for concert tickets or the deadlinefor a prize application period.

For that reason, the processing load on the information distributiondevice side increases at times such as just before a deadline, leadingto a situation in which users have to wait for processing or cannotconnect to the information distribution device.

In that case, the deadline time-point table 129 is provided in thestorage section of the information distribution device and deadlinetime-points are allocated for each predetermined terminal number.

In the deadline time-point table 129 shown in FIG. 8. 18:00 hours onSeptember 30 is specified as the “Deadline time-point” for each terminalhaving a “Terminal number” of 1 to 99, 19:00 hours on September 30 isspecified as the “Deadline time-point” for each terminal having a“Terminal number” of 100 to 199, and 20;00 hours on September 30 isspecified as the “Deadline time-point” for each terminal having a“Terminal number” of 200 to 299.

Note that these terminal numbers are numbers that have been allocated tothe portable telephones 200 beforehand. In other words, the aboveexample illustrates a method in which not only is the user ID input, butalso previously allocated terminal numbers are also used. In particular,each portable telephone 200 has been allocated an individual telephonenumber, so it is possible to identify the portable telephones 200without duplication.

The description now turns to the images that are used when specifying atime-point.

The image shown in FIG. 9A specifies 18:00 hours and that shown in FIG.9B specifies 20:00 hours.

For example, an image 420 indicating “The application deadline is 18:00on September 30” is displayed on a portable telephone that the terminalnumber 50, as shown in FIG. 8. Similarly, an image 422 indicating “Theapplication deadline is 20:00 on September 30” is displayed on aportable telephone that the terminal number 230, as shown in FIG. 8.

Since this makes it possible to stagger the deadline time-points of allthe terminals, cluster s that occur just before the deadline can also bedispersed, thus enabling a reduction in the occurrence of situationsrelating to processing wait and non-connection to the informationdistribution system.

If the specification times for distribution requests are made to differfor each terminal in this manner, it is necessary to be careful not tobe unfair to certain terminals.

If distribution request specification times are to be made different, itis desirable to specify distribution request specification times fordifferent regions, by way of example. Since this ensures that terminaldevices within the same region have the same distribution requestspecification time, each user thinks that other people's deadlines arethe same, so there is no feeling of unfairness. This specification byregions can be divided by using the “Address” stored in the user table123.

It is also desirable to rotate the deadline time-point each time, evenif there are different deadline time-points for each region. This makesit possible to prevent a situation in which one region always has anearly deadline and other region always has a late deadline>

With the above described embodiment of the present invention, theindividual data 121 and the general data 122 is stored in the storagesection 120 within the game information distribution device 100, but itis also possible to disperse the data and store it at a plurality ofserver devices. In addition, it is also possible to implement thevarious functions of the game information distribution device 100 bydispersing them over a plurality of devices.

The specification of distribution request time to which the presentinvention is applied need not be applied to all services where thespecification of distribution request time is necessary; it can also beapplied only to services that involve a heavy processing load. In such acase, components such as the image generation section 113 can determinewhether or not this should be applied by referencing the “Servicedetails” which lists requests in the response history table 126.

Similarly, the personal request frequency table 124 and the requestfrequency table 127 use time periods and numbers of accesses, anddetermine the distribution request time by a frequency distribution ofdistribution requests in different time periods, but it is also possibleto use other methods, such as one that specifies a time period with alow frequency or a low probability of use, based on a probabilitydistribution.

In addition, it is not essential that a time period or time-point atwhich accesses cluster should not be specified as the distributionrequest time; but it could be specified therefor.

Note that although the above embodiments of the present invention weredescribed as relating to examples of the use of the portable telephone200 as a terminal device, the present invention can equally well beapplied to portable telephone sets other than the portable telephone200, such as a PHS or satellite communications telephone. It is alsopossible to apply the present invention to devices other than portabletelephones, such as PCs, portable information terminals, domestic gamemachines having communications functions, portable game machines havingcommunications functions, or arcade game machines or pagers havingcommunications functions.

Instead of distributing information that specifies an initialdistribution request time for a distribution request from apredetermined terminal device, it is also possible to distributeinformation that specifies a distribution request time simultaneously toa plurality of terminal devices, as in a broadcast.

The embodiments of the present invention described above related toexamples in which the method of specifying a distribution request timein such a manner that distribution request times are staggered is amethod of specifying each distribution request time based on historydata which is stored in a predetermined storage area and which indicatesthe history of at least one of distribution requests and responsescorresponding to the distribution requests, or a method of specifyingeach distribution request time based on actual distribution requests.

However, other methods could also be used therefor, such as a methodthat specifies a distribution request time that is separated by apredetermined time from the previously specified distribution requesttime, or a method of specifying each distribution request time atrandom.

The above embodiments of the present invention were described asrelating to the generation of image information and sound informationfor displaying a date-making image in practice, as the advantageousinformation that is generated for an access that conforms with thedistribution request time specification, but method of granting anadvantage is not limited to methods of granting a direct advantage in agame, such as moving the game forward advantageously, increasing thegame score, or lowering a game-play fee.

For example, it is also possible to use a method of granting an indirectadvantages, such as displaying game images that are not usually seen,changing the script spoken by characters in a favorable manner, orenabling the download of a screen saver of a game character.

Note that the above embodiments were described with reference toapplication to a packet-switching network, but the present invention canequally well be applied to other network formats including a wiredcommunications network such as ISDN or a wide-band communicationsnetwork such as an ATM network. In practice, the game informationdistribution device 100 and the portable telephone 200 are notnecessarily connected by a packet-switching network; they could equallywell be connected over the Internet.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information distribution system distributingpredetermined information to a terminal device over a transfer path, theinformation distribution system comprising: an information generationsection which generates distribution request time for specifying theinformation that specifies a distribution request time indicating atime-point or a time period at which the terminal device issues adistribution request for the predetermined information; a transmissionsection which transmits the generated distribution request timespecifying information to the terminal device; a storage section whichstores history data, which indicates a history of at least one of adistribution request and a response corresponding to the distributionrequest and user data which is provided for each user of the terminaldevice and includes at least one of a name, address, date of birth, age,occupation, telephone number, and game-play history information of theeach user; a reception section which receives distribution requestinformation from the terminal device; and a control section whichupdates the history data, based on the distribution request informationand a response corresponding to the distribution request, wherein thecontrol section identifies a user from the distribution requestinformation and updates the user data for the identified user, andwherein the information generation section specifies the distributionrequest time based on the user data and the history data so as todisperse the distribution request time for the terminal device.
 2. Theinformation distribution system as defined by claim 1, wherein theinformation generation section generates information for specifying atleast one of a start time-point of accepting the distribution requestand an end time-point of the distribution request as part of thedistribution request time specifying information.
 3. The informationdistribution system as defined by claim 1, wherein the storage sectionstores request frequency data, which indicates a frequency of thedistribution requests from a plurality of terminal devices for each ofpredetermined time periods, and wherein the information generationsection specifies as the distribution request time a time period inwhich the distribution request frequency is low, or a time-pointincluded in the time period, based on the request frequency data.
 4. Theinformation distribution system as defined by claim 1, wherein the userdata comprises address information indicating the address of the eachuser, and wherein the information generation section generatesdistribution request time for specifying information which specifiesdistribution request times that differ for different regions, based onthe address information.
 5. The information distribution system asdefined by claim 1, wherein the user data includes the distributionrequest time for specifying information that was specified with respectto the each user, and wherein the control section updates the user data,based on distribution request time for specifying information specifiedby the information generation section.
 6. The information distributionsystem as defined by claim 1, wherein the storage section storesdistribution request specifying data for indicating number of time-pointor time period specified as the distribution request time, and whereinthe control section updates the distribution request specifying data,based on the distribution request time specifying information specifiedby the information generation section.
 7. The information distributionsystem as defined by claim 1, wherein information that is distributed tothe terminal device is game information, and wherein the informationgeneration section generates game information for playing at least oneof a game image and a game sound on the terminal device.
 8. Theinformation distribution system as defined by claim 7, wherein thecontrol section updates the user data, based on a time-point of thedistribution request, and wherein the information generation sectiongenerates at least one of game information which makes a game progressmore advantageously when the terminal device has issued a distributionrequest at a time-point conforming with the distribution request timethan when a distribution request has been issued at a time-point notconforming with the distribution request time, and game informationwhich makes a game progress less advantageously when the terminal devicehas issued a distribution request at a time-point not conforming withthe distribution request time than when a distribution request has beenissued at a time-point conforming with the distribution request time,based on the user data.
 9. An information distribution systemdistributing predetermined information to a terminal device over atransfer path, the information distribution system comprising: aninformation generation section which generates distribution request timefor specifying the information that specifies a distribution requesttime for indicating a time-point or a time period at which the terminaldevice issues a distribution request for the predetermined information;a transmission section which transmits the generated distributionrequest time specifying information to the terminal device; and astorage section which stores history data, which indicates a history ofat least one of a distribution request and a response corresponding tothe distribution request and personal request frequency data, whichindicates frequency of a distribution request from the terminal deviceand which is provided for each user of the terminal device, wherein theinformation generation section specifies as the distribution requesttime a time period in which the distribution request frequency is low,or a time-point included in the time period, based on the personalrequest frequency data and the history data so as to disperse thedistribution request time for the terminal device.
 10. The informationdistribution system as defined by claim 9, wherein the control sectionupdates the personal request frequency data, based on a time-point ofthe distribution request, and wherein the information generation sectiongenerates at least one of game information which makes a game progressmore advantageously when the terminal device has issued distributionrequests dispersedly over a plurality of time periods than whendistribution requests have been issued concentratedly, and gameinformation which makes a game progress less advantageously when theterminal device has issued distribution requests concentratedly within apredetermined time period than when distribution requests have beenissued dispersedly, based on the personal request frequency data.
 11. Aninformation distribution system distributing predetermined informationto a terminal device over a transfer path, the information distributionsystem comprising: a reception section which receives from the terminaldevice distribution request time specifying information including aspecification of a distribution request time for indicating a time-pointor time period at which the terminal device issues a distributionrequest for the predetermined information; an information generationsection which generates distribution request time for allowing orrefusing information that is stored in a predetermined storage sectionand indicates allowance or refusal to a specification of a distributionrequest time, based on history data, which indicates a history of atleast one of a distribution request and a response corresponding to thedistribution request, and on the distribution request time specifyinginformation; and a transmission section which transmits the generateddistribution request time allowing/refusing information to the terminaldevice.
 12. A program embodied on an information storage medium or in acarrier wave which is a program for distributing predeterminedinformation to a terminal device over a transfer path, the programcomprising means for implementing in a computer: an informationgeneration section which generates distribution request time forspecifying information that specifies a distribution request timeindicating a time-point or a time period at which the terminal deviceissues a distribution request for the predetermined information; atransmission section which transmits the generated distribution requesttime specifying information to the terminal device; a reception sectionwhich receives the distribution request information from the terminaldevice; a control section which updates the history data, based on thedistribution request information and a response corresponding to thedistribution request; and a storage section which stores history data,which indicates a history of at least one of a distribution request anda response corresponding to the distribution request and user data whichis provided for each user of the terminal device and includes at leastone of a name, address, date of birth, age, occupation, and telephonenumber of the each user, wherein the control section identifies a userfrom the distribution request information and updates the user data forthe identified user, and wherein the information generation sectionspecifies the distribution request time based on the user data and thehistory data so as to disperse the distribution request time for theterminal device.
 13. The program as defined by claim 12, wherein theinformation generation section generates information for specifying atleast one of a start time-point of accepting the distribution requestand an end time-point of the distribution request as part of thedistribution request time specifying information.
 14. The program asdefined by claim 12, wherein the storage section stores requestfrequency data, which indicates a frequency of the distribution requestsfrom a plurality of terminal devices for each of predetermined timeperiods, and wherein the information generation section specifies as thedistribution request time a time period in which the distributionrequest frequency is low, or a time-point included in the time period,based on the request frequency data.
 15. The program as defined by claim12, wherein the user data comprises address information indicating theaddress of the each user, and wherein the information generation sectiongenerates the distribution request time for specifying information whichspecifies distribution request times that differ for different regions,based on the address information.
 16. The program as defined by claim 12wherein the user data comprises the distribution request time forspecifying information that was specified with respect to the each user,and wherein the control section updates the user data, based ondistribution request time for specifying information specified by theinformation generation section.
 17. The program as defined by claim 12,wherein the storage section stores distribution request specifying datafor indicating number of time-point or time period specified as thedistribution request time, and wherein the control section updates thedistribution request specifying data, based on the distribution requesttime specifying information specified by the information generationsection.
 18. The program as defined by claim 12, wherein informationthat is distributed to the terminal device is game information, andwherein the information generation section generates the gameinformation for playing at least one of a game image and a game sound onthe terminal device.
 19. The program as defined by claim 18, wherein thecontrol section updates the user data, based on a time-point of thedistribution request, and wherein the information generation sectiongenerates at least one of game information which makes a game progressmore advantageously when the terminal device has issued a distributionrequest at a time-point conforming with the distribution request timethan when a distribution request has been issued at a time-point notconforming with the distribution request time, and game informationwhich makes a game progress less advantageously when the terminal devicehas issued a distribution request at a time-point not conforming withthe distribution request time than when a distribution request has beenissued at a time-point conforming with the distribution request time,based on the user data.
 20. A program embodied on an information storagemedium or in a carrier wave which is a program for distributingpredetermined information to a terminal device over a transfer path, theprogram comprising means for implementing in a computer: an informationgeneration section which generates distribution request time forspecifying information that specifies a distribution request timeindicating a time-point or a time period at which the terminal deviceissues a distribution request for the predetermined information; atransmission section which transmits the generated distribution requesttime specifying information to the terminal device; and a storagesection which stores history data, which indicates a history of at leastone of a distribution request and a response corresponding to thedistribution request and personal request frequency data, whichindicates frequency of the distribution request from the terminal deviceand which is provided for each user of the terminal device, wherein theinformation generation section specifies as the distribution requesttime a time period in which the distribution request frequency is low,or a time-point included in the time period, based on the personalrequest frequency data and the history data so as to disperse thedistribution request time for the terminal device.
 21. The program asdefined by claim 20, wherein the control section updates the personalrequest frequency data, based on a time-point of the distributionrequest, and wherein the information generation section generates atleast one of game information which makes a game progress moreadvantageously when the terminal device has issued distribution requestsdispersedly over a plurality of time periods than when distributionrequests have been issued concentratedly, and game information whichmakes a game progress less advantageously when the terminal device hasissued distribution requests concentratedly within a predetermined timeperiod than when distribution requests have been issued dispersedly,based on the personal request frequency data.
 22. A program embodied onan information storage medium or in a carrier wave which is a programfor distributing predetermined information to a terminal device over atransfer path, the program comprising means for implementing in acomputer: a reception section which receives from the terminal devicedistribution request time specifying information comprising aspecification of a distribution request time indicating a time-point ortime period at which the terminal device issues a distribution requestfor the predetermined information; an information generation sectionwhich generates the distribution request time for allowing or refusinginformation that is stored in a predetermined storage section andindicates allowance or refusal to a specification of a distributionrequest time, based on history data, which indicates a history of atleast one of a distribution request and a response corresponding to thedistribution request, and on the distribution request time specifyinginformation; and a transmission section which transmits the generateddistribution request time for allowing or refusing information to theterminal device.